Do you think glass objects are a difficult subject to paint in watercolor? They don't need to be if you understand some basic techniques for rendering glass in a painting. In my next workshop at the Lakewood Arts Council Gallery on Thursday March 14 from 9:30 to 3:30 I will provide step by step instructions for this painting, which is based on a demonstration in Paul Jackson's book "Painting Spectacular Light Effects in Watercolor" (c) 2000. Techniques we will focus on in this painting are under painting shadows and smooth graduated washes. It is not too late to sign up if you would like to join us for a fun day of painting. You can contact the gallery at (303) 980-0625 or LAC@lakewoodartscouncil.org.If you are interested is seeing work by the best local watercolor artists you should check out the Colorado Watercolor Society 22nd Annual Exhibit at Foothills Art Center in Golden, 92 exciting works in water media will be displayed in Foothill’s newly renovated galleries from March 2-24, 2013. While you are there please look for my piece titled “Heirlooms.” It is a still life incorporating a china pitcher I inherited from my mother-in-law and heirloom tomatoes from my garden. I will be one of several artists demonstrating watercolor painting techniques at the gallery from 11:00 to 1:00 on Saturday March16. If you visit on the 16th you can view the art and meet some of the artists at work. For more information go to www.foothillsartcenter.org.

Last week I posted the inspiration for this piece. The "Real McCoy" is the finished painting. The turquoise vase is a McCoy vase from the thirties that I am very fond of. In the summer it often holds flowers from my garden. These mums were rescued from a Christmas centerpiece. This painting incorporates some of my favorite challenges, patterned fabric, white flowers and crystal. I have utilized this fabric in several paintings, including “Fruit of Winter” below. In that painting I was especially interested in capturing the reflections of the pomegranates on my black granite countertop.You can see more of my current work in the Colorado Watercolor Society 22nd Annual State Exhibit at the Foothills Art Center, 809 15th Street Golden, CO 80401.Opening Reception: Friday, March 1, 2013 from 6:30 to 8:30 pmExhibition Hours:Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 am-5:00 pmSunday 12:00 pm-5:00 pmOn March 22, 11:00-1:00 I will be one of several artists demonstrating watercolor techniques at the gallery. I would love to have you join me.

Thank you for visiting my new website. I am excited to share the progress of my latest paintings, information about classes I am teaching and upcoming exhibits in my blogs. I will also be posting links to items of interest to artists and art lovers.

This photograph is the inspiration for the painting I am currently working on. This will be my third painting using this fabric in the background. I continue to be intrigued by the challenge of balancing the intricate patterns of the fabric with the overall composition of the still life and I enjoy capturing the reflections and facets of the cut glass bowl. Look for the completed painting in my next blog.

The topic of my workshop on February 13 and 14 at the Lakewood Arts Council Gallery is form and light. One of the challenges for the students in that workshop will be painting the ironwood penguin in the photo above. For more information about my workshop click on the Workshop tab.